CARDIFF Devils players have decided against flying to Scotland for their Elite League ice hockey play-off clash with Braehead Clan – and will travel by coach.

Club owner Paul Ragan gave Devils captain Stuart MacRae and the team an option to fly up on Saturday, but the players have decided on a coach journey on Friday and an overnight stay.

“We would prefer to train at Cardiff Bay Arena on Friday, leave by coach late morning and be in the Glasgow area on Friday evening,” says MacRae.

“The guys are used to travelling on the coach and the time together helps bring the team together.

“We will have a meal together at our hotel that will give us a better preparation for our match on Saturday.”

Devils take on Braehead away on Saturday evening with the return at Cardiff Bay Arena the next evening (6pm face-off).

The winners over two legs will progress to the Elite League finals weekend.

Devils players will leave Glasgow immediately after the first leg and head back to South Wales, arriving in Cardiff at around 5am.

Head coach Gerad Adams says: “The chance to travel up on Friday is a bonus for us.

“Stuart has a good feel for our room as captain and the guys are looking forward to putting it on the line this weekend, but must all keep a level head.”

A sell-out attendance of well over 2,000 watched Cardiff’s final league match of the season, against champions Nottingham, and the club are hoping for another bumper crowd for the play-off clash against Clan on Sunday.

Play-off tickets for the second leg against Braehead are available from Cardiff Bay Arena box office on Cardiff 029 2038 2001.

All match tickets are on general sale.

Additionally, Devils will be web streaming the home fixture through cardiffdevils.com.